Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board JMT in OCTOBER

I am planning to start the JMT at Happy Isles this coming week. Any suggestions re: resupply and other strategies? Coming from LA in own car -- car strategies? Probably going to putz along at 2+ weeks -- winging it a bit, at least for the first week.

Hi Very nice trip expect snow and temps below 20's at night storm pattern most years is storm and clear 7-10 days if you need to bail look to the west and many miles as some of the east exit passes will be closed with snow and it will take alot of trail breaking for one person breaking trail up and then down the east side resupply points may also close so expect to carry your food for the entire trip . A few folks are still coming out at the portal but the main season is over . Hope to see you on your exit. Thanks Doug

Thanks Doug. Yeah, re-supply may make this un-doable. Don't see hiking off the trail for re-supply as an option!

October weather can be unpredictable, as was proven in the late 70's during so-called drought years, when several people died trying to bail to the east from the JMT. Be prepared to bail out if it snows more than an inch per hour for several hours. Don't let your goal focus overcome judgment. As others have said, eastside passes can become very dangerous during major storms, as the snow depth far exceeds lower elevations.

Are you doing this solo? Do you have any way of communicating with the outside world if you have the need? I don't mean to scare you, but the risks can be serious this time of year.

Re-supply might be a problem. Muir Trail Ranch is closed for the winter season. I don't know about Vermillion Resort. Red's Meadow will close soon. Mammoth Lakes is an option, but you might have to walk out to Mammoth if the road closes due to snow. Cedar Grove on the west side will also close soon. Bishop Pass is still fairly dry, which would offer a route out to Bishop for re-supply, but don't expect any lifts out if the road closes at Bishop Creek Lodge. At the first major storm the road above Aspendell on the North Fork of Bishop Creek will close for the winter - another long walk out.

P.S. Raindow Pack Station near South Lake on the eastside will close at the end of October. This is usually a good indicator of what to expect vis a vis a Bishop Pass bail --- snow.

How about doing the JMT South to North, starting at Mt. Whitney with the car left in Lone Pine. (The southern part is higher, so colder, etc.) 14 days of food should get you to Yosemite, but it would be easier to get back to the east side if you exited before that. Take the CREST bus back to Lone Pine.

Sounds like fun, good luck.